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The music of the 20th century that is uniquely American combines what was known as Popular music which is melodic, with the jazz sensibility: freedom to improvise and interpret. The American Songbook Preservation Society seeks to carry the torch of the great musical works of this period in the grand tradition of the master songsmiths, lyricists, and singers who have given us this legacy and have now departed from the scene. "There are few things uniquely American...Arguably Jazz is one of them." Ken Burns, film-maker and author President signs Public Law 10872 The new law, a Sense of the Congress, acknowledges Jazz as "an original American art form, which has inspired dancers, choreographers, poets, novelists, filmmakers, classical composers, and musicians in many other kinds of music." It further states that "jazz ranks as one of the greatest cultural exports of the United States" and our jazz heritage should be "appreciated as broadly as possible and should be part of the educational curriculum for children in the United States." Smithsonian Institution
The law recognizes the contribution the Smithsonian Institution has played in establishing Jazz Appreciation Month to pay tribute to jazz as both an historic and living American art form and urges "musicians, radio and television stations, and other organizations to develop programs to explore, perpetuate, and honor jazz as a national and world treasure." Spontaneous. Never Ordinary. Completely Genuine.
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